Krishak Bandhu is a major farmer-support scheme of the Government of West Bengal. It was introduced in 2019 to provide financial assistance for agricultural activities and social security to farming families. The scheme was later revamped and renamed Krishak Bandhu (Natun) in 2021.
The scheme has two important aspects: regular financial assistance for cultivation and the Krishak Bandhu Death Benefit, which provides financial support to eligible families after the death of a farmer or recorded sharecropper.
What is Krishak Bandhu?
Krishak Bandhu is a West Bengal government scheme designed to provide assured financial assistance to farmers at the beginning of cropping seasons. The financial support can help farmers meet expenses related to agricultural inputs and other farming requirements.
The revamped Krishak Bondhu(Natun) scheme provides annual assistance of up to ₹10,000 for farmers having one acre or more of cultivable land. Farmers with less than one acre receive assistance on a pro-rata basis, subject to a minimum of ₹4,000 per year.
Krishak Bandhu Scheme Objectives
The primary objective of Krishak Bondhu is to provide financial support to farmers and strengthen the economic security of farming households.
The major objectives include:
- Providing financial assistance for agricultural expenses.
- Helping farmers purchase agricultural inputs.
- Supporting farmers during different crop seasons.
- Providing social security to eligible farming families.
- Offering financial assistance to eligible families in case of the farmer’s untimely death.
- Creating a digitized identity and registration system for farmers.
The West Bengal Agriculture Department describes Krishak Bandhu (Natun) as a scheme intended to help farmers meet day-to-day agricultural expenses and make decisions regarding crop selection, input procurement and improved farming practices.
Also Check- PM Kisan Registration
Krishak Bandhu Benefits
The Krishak Bandhu benefits are primarily provided through regular cultivation assistance and the Death Benefit component.
Annual Financial Assistance
Farmers with 1 acre or more of cultivable land can receive up to ₹10,000 per year.
Farmers with less than one acre receive a proportionate amount, with a minimum annual assistance of ₹4,000. The payment is divided into two equal installments corresponding to the Kharif and Rabi seasons.
According to the Agriculture Department, the installments are associated with:
- Kharif Season: April–September
- Rabi Season: October–March
Krishak Bandhu Death Benefit
The Krishak Bandhu Death Benefit Scheme provides social security to eligible families when a farmer or recorded sharecropper dies.
Under the current scheme information published by the West Bengal Agriculture Department, an eligible family receives a one-time payment of ₹2,00,000 when the farmer dies between 18 and 60 years of age, irrespective of the cause of death.
The Death Benefit is separate from the regular cultivation assistance and is intended to provide financial support to the bereaved family.
Krishak Bandhu Eligibility
Eligibility requirements can depend on the particular component of the scheme.
For the regular Krishak Bondhu (Natun) assistance, the scheme is intended for farmers with cultivable land in West Bengal. The official scheme information specifies different assistance levels according to the cultivable landholding.
For the Death Benefit, the official Agriculture Department states that the deceased farmer must have been between 18 and 60 years old at the time of death. Farmers and recorded sharecroppers are covered under the scheme’s framework.
Farmers should check the latest official requirements before submitting an application because government procedures and verification requirements can be updated.
Krishak Bandhu Registration
Krishak Bondhu registration is handled through the West Bengal Agriculture Department’s system. The official Krishak Bandhu information page advises farmers to contact the Assistant Director of Agriculture (ADA) at the concerned block for registration and related information.
Historically, registration and verification have involved agricultural land records and identity/bank-related documents. Government procedures have included documents such as land records, identity proof, bank passbook or cancelled cheque, photograph and mobile number.
Farmers should provide accurate information and ensure that their bank and identity details are correctly recorded for receiving benefits.
Documents Required for Krishak Bandhu
Depending on the type of application and current government requirements, farmers may be asked to provide documents such as:
- Aadhaar Card or other accepted identity proof
- Voter ID
- Land ownership/land record documents
- Record of Rights (RoR), where applicable
- Bank passbook or cancelled cheque
- Mobile number
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Sharecropper-related records, where applicable
For a Death Benefit claim, additional documents may include the deceased farmer’s identity proof, death certificate, claimant eligibility certificate and relevant land records. The official SOP specifically lists these types of documents for Death Benefit applications.
Krishak Bandhu Portal
The Krishak Bandhu Portal is the dedicated online platform associated with the scheme. The West Bengal Agriculture Department states that Krishak Bandhu (Natun) is implemented through the dedicated portal.
Farmers can use official government resources for information relating to registration, verification and scheme-related services. It is advisable to use official West Bengal government websites rather than unofficial websites when entering personal, land or banking information.
Krishak Bandhu Payment
The regular Krishak Bandhu assistance is paid in two installments during the Kharif and Rabi seasons. The annual amount depends on the farmer’s eligible cultivable landholding, subject to the scheme’s minimum and maximum assistance levels.
The West Bengal government’s 2026-27 budget document reported that during the 2025-26 Kharif season, 110 lakh farmers received ₹2,930 crore under the scheme. It also reported that more than ₹27,016.59 crore had been disbursed under Krishak Bandhu since its inception at the time covered by that budget document.
How to Check Krishak Bandhu Status?
Farmers looking for Krishak Bandhu status should use the official Krishak Bandhu Portal or the relevant government agriculture service.
Generally, the process involves:
- Open the official website- krishakbandhu.wb.gov.in
- Look for the relevant farmer/status service.
- Enter the requested registration or identification details.
- Submit the information.
- Review the displayed registration or benefit information.
If the online information is unavailable or there is a discrepancy, the farmer can contact the concerned block-level Agriculture Department office.
Krishak Bandhu Beneficiary List
The Krishak Bandhu beneficiary list contains information about farmers registered under the scheme. Inclusion depends on successful registration, document verification and eligibility under the applicable scheme rules.
Farmers should rely on official government sources for beneficiary information because third-party websites may contain outdated or incomplete information.
Krishak Bondhu and Paddy Procurement
Krishak Bondhu registration can also have relevance to other agricultural services. The official Krishak Bandhu information page states that registered farmers receive preference in the State Government’s paddy procurement scheme implemented by the Food & Supplies Department.
This makes accurate farmer registration important beyond the direct financial assistance itself.
Krishak Bandhu: Important Points to Remember
Before applying for or checking Krishak Bandhu, farmers should remember:
- It is a Government of West Bengal farmer-support scheme.
- The scheme was introduced in 2019 and later revamped as Krishak Bandhu (Natun).
- Eligible farmers with one acre or more can receive up to ₹10,000 annually.
- Farmers with less than one acre can receive pro-rata assistance subject to a ₹4,000 annual minimum.
- Payments are made in two seasonal installments.
- The Death Benefit provides a one-time ₹2 lakh assistance for eligible deaths between ages 18 and 60.
- Land, identity and banking details should be kept accurate and updated.
- Farmers should use official government portals and offices for registration and status-related services.
Conclusion
Krishak is an important agricultural and social-security initiative of the Government of West Bengal. Through Krishak Bondhu (Natun), eligible farmers receive seasonal financial assistance intended to support agricultural activities, while the Death Benefit component provides a one-time ₹2 lakh payment to eligible families following the death of a farmer or recorded sharecropper within the specified age range.
For registration, status checks, payment information and document requirements, farmers should refer to the official West Bengal Agriculture Department and Krishak Bondhu Portal because procedures can change over time.